Study finds motorists can overspend as much as $25 per fill-up across state borders, gasoline price “spread” even wider near state lines
BOSTON, MA — GasBuddy, the only smartphone app connecting nearly 70 million drivers with the Perfect Pit Stop, identifies the state borders with the most drastic gas price variance — “spread” in industry parlance. According to GasBuddy’s 2017 Summer Travel Survey, a record number of people are traveling more than 500 miles during their road trips, meaning many are crossing state borders.
Looking at 20 high-risk areas where factors can create wide border differences, GasBuddy data found that price spread differed by an average 44 cents per gallon between the two sides, or $10 per tank. In some extreme cases, drivers can spend an extra $25 when refueling the tank if on the wrong side of the line.
“Generally, the price spread between states next to each other is the difference in state and local taxes, but can be enhanced if the two neighbors have different types of required gasoline from different regions,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “Usually, traveling across state borders isn’t an event that sticks out to motorists who might be busy taking pictures of the welcome signs, but gas prices can stealthily surge just by crossing over the state line. To avoid overspending, motorists should mind the price spread and look up gas prices on both sides of the border in advance to make an informed decision on where to fill up.”
Many residents who live close to certain state borders have noticed the large price difference and regularly cross their state borders to save.
Top 10 border towns that saw the largest price per gallon differences between stations:
• $1.70 – Needles, Calif., and Mohave Valley, Ariz.
• $0.88 – Manhattan, N. Y. and Jersey City, N. J.
• $0.84 – Blythe, Calif., and Ehrenberg, Ariz.
• $0.58 – Greenwich, Conn., and Port Chester, N. Y.
• $0.52 – Staten Island, N. Y., and Perth Amboy, N. J.
• $0.46 – Girard, Pa., and Conneaut, Ohio.
• $0.45 – Temperance, Mich., and Toledo, Ohio.
• $0.40 – Philadelphia, Pa., and Mount Ephraim, N. J.
• $0.36 – East St. Louis, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo.
• $0.35 – Liberty Lake, Wash., and Post Falls, Idaho.
GasBuddy user Shawn M. from Macungie, Pa., heads to New Jersey to get gas after work. “The 20 cents difference in gas prices are more than enough to make up for the extra mileage during the trip. The savings could be anywhere up to roughly $30-40 per month if not more, depending on the differences in cost.”
For more saving success stories from real life border crossers, check out http://business.gasbuddy.com/blog-overpaying-across-us-borders/.
About GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop™. With nearly 70 million downloads, GasBuddy is the leader in crowdsourced information to help drivers find the best gas prices, closest stations, friendliest service, cleanest restrooms, tastiest coffee and much more. GasBuddy is the leading source for the most accurate, real-time fuel prices at more than 140,000 gas stations in the U.S, Canada and Australia. The Company’s B2B Retailer Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), known as GasBuddy Business Pages, provide Fuel Marketers and Retailers their best opportunity to maintain their station information, manage their brand, and promote to their target consumer audience. For more information, visit www.gasbuddy.com or email press@gasbuddy.com.
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